Despite Drift Nets And Oil Spills

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Great Animal Story...
Tue Nov 23, 2004


WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - A pod of dolphins circled protectively round a group of New Zealand swimmers to fend off an attack by a great white shark, media reported on Tuesday.

Lifesavers Rob Howes, his 15-year-old daughter Niccy, Karina Cooper and Helen Slade were swimming 300 feet off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on New Zealand's North Island when the dolphins herded them -- apparently to protect them from a shark.

"They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us," Howes told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).

Howes tried to drift away from the group, but two of the bigger dolphins herded him back just as he spotted a nine-foot great white shark swimming toward the group.

"I just recoiled. It was only about 2 meters away from me, the water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face," Howes said, referring to a distance of six feet.

"They had corralled us up to protect us," he said.

The lifesavers spent the next 40 minutes surrounded by the dolphins before they could safely swim back to shore. The incident happened on October 30, but the lifesavers kept the story to themselves until now.

Environment group Orca Research said dolphins attacked sharks to protect themselves and their young, so their actions in protecting the lifesavers was understandable.

"They could have sensed the danger to the swimmers and taken action to protect them," Orca's Ingrid Visser told NZPA.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

 

[Guest]

Dolphins put humans to shame.

Great story, thanks, Burley.

Lou

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

By Special Request For ChilledVodka (The One & Only Original)

Addidas Is Killing for Kicks!



Each year, millions of kangaroos are killed in what is widely regarded as the largest wildlife massacre on the planet.

Shockingly, the number one supporters of this barbaric trade are sports shoe manufacturers, who purchase the skins and turn them into football boots. Adidas, one of the industry’s biggest customers, is a major driving force behind the industry.

In July 2002 Viva! was leaked an email sent out by John Kelly, spokesperson for the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia, which stated:

"This (soccer boot) industry is vital to the kangaroo industry. Without it underpinning kangaroo skin prices the entire industry would be at risk. Adidas have received to date over 10,000 emails complaining about their use of kangaroo leather...and are obviously concerned about damage to their image.

This is proof that Adidas - and the other companies using kangaroo skin are responsible for the violent and unnecessary deaths of adult kangaroos and their baby joeys - all for the sake of a sports shoe!

The Adidas Predator football boot, as worn by David Beckham, is made from Kangaroo skin.

There is no excuse for Adidas to continue supporting an industry that causes so much suffering. The original designer of the Predator boot, ex-Liverpool player Craig Johnston, has publically stated:

"The original model [of the Predator] was an all-rubber shoe. Synthetics, rubbers and new materials are definitely the future of football boots. I don’t agree with killing kangaroos."

There are modern, hi-tec synthetic fabrics available which Adidas could switch to right now. Ronaldo - arguably the best football player in the world - wears a boot which is made of 100 per cent synthetic materials. If boots made from synthetic materials are good enough for Ronaldo then Adidas has no excuse for not using them too!

Adidas are well aware of the cruelty behind the kangaroo industry. Viva! has written to them on countless occasions, sent them harrowing video footage of a kangaroo hunt , presented them with a report into cruelty in the commercial kangaroo industry (based on evidence collected by the Australian RSPCA) but still they fund the kangaroo massacre.

By continuing to use kangaroo-skin, Adidas is showing itself to be devoid of compassion and ethics. The Predator boot is living up to its name, leaving a trail of blood in the outback.

Viva! is calling for an international boycott of all Adidas products. We must make Adidas realise that people will not tolerate our planet’s wildlife being slaughtered for unnecessary, luxury items such as football boots.

 

[wildsweetone]

It's wonderful to see dolphin stories like the one you quoted VB. Thank you

NZ banned drift nets in 1989 (Hectors Dolphin Set Nets).

The last dolphins I saw were a school that followed our ferry through Queen Charlotte Sound when we went from Picton across to Wellington. Apparently they're quite a common site.

 

[cantdog]

It's wonderful to see dolphin stories like the one you quoted VB. Thank you

NZ banned drift nets in 1989 (Hectors Dolphin Set Nets).

The last dolphins I saw were a school that followed our ferry through Queen Charlotte Sound when we went from Picton across to Wellington. Apparently they're quite a common site.

I saw the same pod or whatever they're called. I miss the place. New Zealand was so beautiful, and the people were like home. Rooted, clear-headed.

 

[wildsweetone]

Pod thank you, I figured school wasn't the word I needed.

And yep, it is a beautiful country. I have a distinct feeling that Banff in Canada is about the northern hemisphere's equivalent to here.

'Rooted, clear headed.' Yep, I'd agree with you there. We tend to have our own issues that are important to us.

 

[shereads]

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."

~ Dolphins leaving earth. Quoted by the late Douglas Adams.